Improving Community Living and Participation among Youth in Long-Term Care: A Unique Court Approach - The goal of this three-year, quasi-experimental study led by the University of Texas at Arlington and the Texas Center for Child and Family Studies is to build evidence on the effectiveness of a specialized, novel court model (the Permanent Managing Conservatorship [PMC] Court) that was developed to improve outcomes for youth in long-term foster care, a substantial portion of whom have disabilities. Specific objectives include: 1) to assess feasibility of the evaluation tools; 2) to examine the prevalence of disability and specific types of disability among youth in long-term foster care; 3) to examine the PMC Court effectiveness for improving permanency outcomes (including community-based living) among youth in long-term foster care; 4) to examine the PMC Court effectiveness in improving wellbeing and functioning outcomes (e.g., health, mental health, and preparedness for independent adult living) among youth in long-term foster care; and 5) to assess how disability moderates the attainment of positive outcomes, and 6) to disseminate research findings and promote sustainability. Anticipated outcomes include: 1) identification of implementation barriers and facilitators; 2) continuous quality improvement processes in partnership with an advisory board of key stakeholders; 3) improved community-based living for youth served by the PMC Court, including increased rates of permanency, placement stability, and family-based placements; 4) improved health, mental health, and fewer unmet service needs among youth served by the PMC court; and 5) improved outcomes will be stronger for children and youth with disabilities. The expected deliverables include technical reports, journal articles, and conference presentations that present the PMC Court model and its impact.
